The Holcim Awards
recognizes innovative projects and future-oriented concepts on regional and
global levels. A total of $2 million USD in prize money is awarded in each
three-year cycle.

The competition seeks projects that demonstrate an
ability to stretch conventional notions about sustainable building and also
balance environmental, social, and economic performance – while also
exemplifying architectural excellence and a high degree of transferability.

There are two categories within the competition. The Holcim Awards (main
category) is open to architects, landscape architects, planners, engineers,
project owners, builders and, construction firms that showcase sustainable
responses to technological, environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural issues
affective contemporary building and construction.

The Holcim Awards also
seeks the visions and bold ideas for the “Next Generation” (young
professional/student) for submissions of young professionals and university
students where all project authors are no older than 30 years of age.

A
regional competition is in each of the five world regions: Europe, North
America, Latin America, Africa Middle East and Asia Pacific. Independent juries
supported by the Holcim Foundation’s partner universities evaluate submissions
on the basis of the “target issues” for sustainable construction.